Install TWRP on OnePlus X: Full Guide

Yes, you can install TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) on a OnePlus X, and this guide walks you through the entire process step by step. You will need an unlocked bootloader, a computer with ADB and Fastboot tools, and the correct TWRP image file for the OnePlus X (codenamed onyx). The installation itself takes about 10 minutes, but the preparation and potential troubleshooting can take longer if you are new to this.

What Is TWRP and Why Install It on the OnePlus X?

TWRP is a custom recovery environment that replaces the stock recovery on Android devices. The stock recovery on the OnePlus X only allows factory resets and applying official OTA updates. TWRP gives you a touchscreen interface to:

• Create full system backups (Nandroid backups) to an SD card or USB OTG drive.
• Install custom ROMs, kernels, and mods from ZIP files.
• Wipe partitions individually (cache, dalvik, data, system) for a clean install.
• Mount partitions to transfer files over MTP while in recovery.
• Run advanced commands via a built-in terminal.

For the OnePlus X, which launched with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and received an official update to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, TWRP is often the gateway to installing newer custom ROMs based on Android 7, 8, 9, or 10. Without a custom recovery, you cannot flash most community-developed ROMs.

Prerequisites and What You Need

Before starting, gather the following items and meet these conditions:

• OnePlus X with an unlocked bootloader – unlocking wipes all data, so back up anything important first.
• USB debugging enabled – go to Settings → About Phone → tap Build Number 7 times, then enable Developer Options → USB Debugging.
• ADB and Fastboot tools on your computer – available from the Android developer platform-tools package for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• The correct TWRP image file – download the official twrp-3.x.x-x-onyx.img from the TWRP website (the OnePlus X is listed under "OnePlus X"). Do not use a TWRP image meant for a different device.
• OnePlus USB drivers on Windows – macOS and Linux usually work without extra drivers.
• At least 50% battery – a power loss during flashing can brick the device.

Step-by-Step: Unlock the Bootloader (If Not Already Done)

If you have never unlocked your OnePlus X bootloader, do this first. This step is required because fastboot commands will not flash a recovery image to a locked bootloader.

1. Power off the phone.
2. Press and hold Volume Up + Power to boot into Fastboot mode (you will see a screen with "FASTBOOT" text).
3. Connect the phone to your computer via USB.
4. Open a command prompt or terminal in the folder where you have the platform-tools.
5. Type fastboot devices – you should see your device serial number. If not, check drivers and USB cable.
6. Type fastboot oem unlock (or fastboot flashing unlock on newer tools). Confirm on the phone screen.
7. Once done, the phone will reboot and show an unlocked bootloader warning. Set up the phone again, re-enable USB debugging, and boot back into fastboot.

Flashing TWRP via Fastboot

With the bootloader unlocked, you can now flash TWRP. The OnePlus X does not have a separate recovery partition in the traditional sense – it uses a boot image with a ramdisk that contains either the stock recovery or TWRP. This means you flash TWRP to the recovery partition using the fastboot flash recovery command, but you must also prevent the system from overwriting it on the next boot.

1. Boot your OnePlus X into fastboot mode (Volume Up + Power).
2. Connect to your computer.
3. In the terminal, navigate to the folder containing the TWRP image.
4. Type: fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x-x-onyx.img
5. Wait for the "OKAY" message.
6. Do NOT reboot normally. Instead, type fastboot reboot recovery to boot directly into TWRP.

If you reboot normally before entering TWRP, the stock Android system may overwrite your custom recovery. That is why you must boot straight into recovery after flashing.

First Boot into TWRP and Essential Settings

When TWRP first loads, you will see a screen asking whether to keep the system partition read-only. Choose "Keep Read Only" if you only plan to flash a custom ROM later, or "Swipe to Allow Modifications" if you want to install SuperSU or Magisk right away. Either choice is fine, but allowing modifications is more common.

Once inside TWRP, go to Settings and set the correct time zone. Then go to Backup and create a full backup of your current ROM (system, data, boot, efs) to an external SD card or USB OTG. The EFS partition contains your IMEI and radio calibration data – losing it can permanently break cellular connectivity, so always back it up.

If you ever need to return to stock, you can download the official OnePlus X stock ROM and flash it via fastboot or a custom recovery.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Several issues can arise during or after flashing TWRP. Here are the most frequent ones and their fixes:

• "FAILED (remote: not allowed)" – This means the bootloader is still locked. Go back and run the unlock command again.
• Device not showing in fastboot devices – Install the correct USB drivers, try a different USB port, or use a USB 2.0 port instead of 3.0.
• Stock recovery comes back after reboot – You rebooted normally before entering TWRP. Boot back into fastboot, reflash TWRP, and then immediately boot into recovery.
• TWRP loops or shows a black screen – Some early TWRP builds had issues with certain firmware versions. Try the latest official TWRP build or a newer one from the TWRP website.
• Unable to mount data partition – This often happens after switching from stock to a custom ROM. In TWRP, go to Wipe → Format Data and type yes. This wipes internal storage but fixes encryption issues.
• Bootloop after flashing a ROM – Reboot into TWRP, wipe cache/dalvik, and if that fails, restore your backup or reflash the ROM with a full wipe (system, data, cache, dalvik).

Keeping TWRP After OTA Updates

If you later install an official OTA update on a stock ROM, the update may replace TWRP with stock recovery. To prevent this, you can install a custom kernel that disables the recovery overwrite, or simply reflash TWRP after each OTA. Many users prefer to switch to a custom ROM that does not overwrite recovery, which is the main reason people install TWRP in the first place.

Also note that the OnePlus X has a separate recovery partition, so you can always boot back into fastboot and reflash TWRP without losing your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will installing TWRP void my warranty?

Yes, installing TWRP requires unlocking the bootloader, which voids the manufacturer warranty. However, you can relock the bootloader and flash the stock ROM to restore the phone to a near-stock state, though the bootloader unlock flag may remain visible to the service center.

Do I need root to install TWRP?

No. TWRP installation requires an unlocked bootloader and fastboot, but not root. In fact, TWRP is often the first step before rooting – you can then flash Magisk or SuperSU from within TWRP.

Can I install TWRP without a computer?

No, the standard method requires a computer with fastboot. There are apps like Flashify that can flash a recovery image from within Android, but they require root access first, which is a chicken-and-egg problem unless you already have root.

Which TWRP version should I use for the OnePlus X?

Use the latest official TWRP release from the TWRP website for the onyx device. As of now, that is version 3.7.0 or newer. Older versions may have bugs with Android 6.0 or later firmware.

Will TWRP work on Android 6.0.1 stock?

Yes, TWRP is compatible with both Android 5.1.1 and 6.0.1 stock firmware. It also works with most custom ROMs based on Android 7–10.

How do I boot into TWRP after installation?

Power off the phone, then press and hold Volume Down + Power for a few seconds. This should boot directly into TWRP. If it boots to fastboot instead, you may have held the wrong button – Volume Up is fastboot, Volume Down is recovery.

Related

• Slack Integrations Safety: Permissions & Data Access
• Apple TV Won’t Turn On? Fixes That Work
• CarPlay Alternatives for Cars Without Built-In Support